With Claire Davie, AKA food blogger Melbourne Gastronome.
GET SOME CULTURE...
Get some culture: The current exhibition on German Modernism at the National Gallery of Victoria (180 St Kilda Road, city, call 8620 2222) is brilliant. For contemporary stuff I like to stickybeak in the string of art galleries along Albert Street in Richmond, and for lowbrow/pop art I love Outre Gallery (249 Elizabeth Street, city, call 9642 5455).
Go to relax: Browsing in a good bookshop is always relaxing. Some of my favourites are Books for Cooks (233-235 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, call 8415 1415), Metropolis Bookshop (Curtin House, 252 Swanston Street, city, call 9663 2015) for art books, and of course Readings (309 Lygon Street, Carlton, call 9347 6633) for after a movie.
Unleash your inner child: After stocking up on fresh produce at the Collingwood Children’s Farm farmers’ market (18 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford, call 9417 5806, held on the second Saturday every month), wandering down to the farm to pat the animals.
Indulge yourself: For food, the Tuesday Night Chef’s Table menu at Attica (74 Glen Eira Road, Ripponlea, call 9530 0111) is a fantastic mid-week indulgence: $95 for five courses of dishes chef Ben Shewry is testing for the regular menu. For girly pampering, a visit to the sassy Miss Fox beauty salon (285 Little Collins Street, city, call 1300 647 736).
Spend your last $10: Try a mind-blowing ciabatta at Beatrix Cafe and Bake-a-way (688 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne, call 9090 7031), or maybe some of their sweet treats instead: their Elvis cupcake is just out of control.
Buy something new: Since my recent trip to Tokyo and Kyoto I’ve been obsessed with Japanese food, so I love visiting Japanese supermarket Fuji Mart (34A Elizabeth Street, South Yarra, call 9826 5839) to buy new ingredients to test out.
Take someone you want to impress: Carlton Wine Room (172-174 Faraday Street, Carlton, call 9347 2626) for a glass of Italian wine, followed by dinner across the road at Embrasse (312 Drummond Street, Carlton, call 9347 3312). And on the way home, maybe a tiki cocktail at The LuWoW (62-70 Johnston Street, Fitzroy, call 9417 5447) for a touch of the ridiculous.
Go on your own: I like going to the movies alone, especially during the Melbourne International Film Festival, or to a Hitchcock double feature at the Astor Theatre (1 Chapel Street, St Kilda, call 9510 1414) .
Stay up late: In Melbourne we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to little incognito bars. New favourites are Bar Americano (20 Presgrave Place, city, call 9428 0055) and Bar Ampere (16 Russell Place, city, call 96637557).
Want to keep a secret: A paczek (traditional Polish doughnut filled with black plum jam) from the Polish Deli (Dairy Produce Hall, Queen Victoria Market, call 9348 9211). Delicious!
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